Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-10

LIE. RHrringtess Moral Reform BAH.
Oas OF the nod important bills In.
troAuced In the Lsgislsture 10 that pre-
pared By Austin Harrington, Esq,
ander the title Of IN "A,t for the pre-
vsnticn Of cruelty 70 children and for
o.hsr purpose" Il u that part OF II
that relates to ''other parposss" that is
the most i'm portant - under that heed
shsfs arc many real WORMS proposed,
that II enacted into laws and carried
out must conducs largely 10 the moral
ststus Of the community. II hes
always been . cryiB3 shame 10 the
CON munity that bel pleas wives and
children have been thrown upon the
public by worthless husbands Who re-
fused to support thsm. In many In.
stances wives and children have been
forsaken by youp 3. hearty husbands,
Who make good wages and could easily
support them II they would, but do mol,
simply because they have como across
some worthless harlequin that pieasss
them better. Several cases have been
brought to the attention Of Mr.. Har.
rington where wives with two or three
small children are com PEELED to exc ont
. miserable existence by plain se wing,
when they can get 1t to do, while they
have to bear the injustice Of seeing .
worthless husband spend his wages
upon other women. Strange ~ 1t may
seem, yet 1t IL . fact that there IL no
law TO meet such cAses. The children
cannot be taken care OF by any bensvo-
lent institution while they are not In
m actual state OF suffering, and neither
can the county authorities take eosni.
zance OF such cases until the deserted
wife throws herself upon the county
for support, and . true spirited woman
will suffer much before she will do this.
Mr.. Hsrrington's bill will compel these
heArtlees, truant husbands to support
thsir wives In preference 70 other women,
and II they do not see proper to do this
they may fnd Wilmington IN uncon-
tortably hot place to live in. But Mr..
Harrinsson's bill goes further, 1t is =
reform bill throughout. The immoral
treatment Of girl under fifteen year,
OF age Ii made heinous crime, and II
punishable with . heavy fne. A'tel
shat age Ii Is supposed that she knows
what she is doing and becomes respon
sible for her own folly. This is also I
long stride In the direction OF real
genuine, moral reform, but not more q
than the clause which Furnishes parent,
or guardians OF children for Introducing
them into improper places. The pro
pfietors Of drinking saloons and dance
houses are also made liable to fne fol
permitting youths under eighteen year
OF age 70 visit their places. The bill
ends as It begins with q needed reform
the last not the least OF those needed
IT provides ans Of one hundred dol
lars upon the person who imports 70
sale or circulales obscene literature AM
prints or attempts to corrupt minors b.
the same. There should be no douh
Is to the passage Of such an act. Wi
mington may not have worse mer
women and children than other ci.iel
but II 50 1t Is certainly not due to rigi
restraining laws like other cities hsv'
There are wives and young childre
here cruelty neglected and forssker
there are young girls here ruined befor
they rsach ;he sgs o; fifteen; childre
Are iRyeigled into immoral and in
proper places Tor the purpose OF ruinin
them, aud our city is flooded with di
gusting obscene literature that is cAugl
mp and eagerly read BY boys and girl
and to check, II not to annihilate the
evils, is the purpose Of Mr.. Harm
toms bill. II should not meet vii
opposition.